Internal-combustion engine.



w. 1. BROWN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION H'LED FEB. 16. I916.

Patented June 22, 1915;

4 $HEETSSHEET I.

A TTOR NE Y3 W. 1. BROWN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE;

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 6 1915. 1,144,105. Patented June 22, 1915. 4 sn EEEEEEE 13.

WITNESSES: IN V EN TOR.

[1 456 Jfivm wwmw BY I ATTORNEY5 w. J. BROWN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 195.

1,1 4 1,105. Patented June 22,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEETS- WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTOR NE 1'5 W, 1. BROWN;

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 16. 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W BY 3 Patented June 22, 1915.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W ALTER 3,. BROWN, 01? SPRINGFIELD, MA SACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO :JOHN FIRTH, 3-, Q SE FIELD, mssecm m s.

INTEBNAL-CGMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of a s' a c Patented June 22, 19-15.-

A ncatiqn use February 16, m n Serial No. 5,502. l

' Zda'll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. Brown, a citizen of the United States of America, l'esiding in the city of Springfield, county of Hampden, and State, of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, and, more particularly to engines in which oscillatory wing pistons are employed to impart a continuous rotary motion to the crank shaft.

An object ofthe invention is to provide an improved internal combustion engine with a plurality of wing pistons so assembled and arranged that a minimum of connecting rods and cranks are necessary to connect these pistons with the engine shaft.

Another object of the invention is to pro 'vide an'improved engine of the class de scribed, wherein the wing pistons are double acting, whereby. each piston is the equivalent of two single acting pistons in the ordinary engine. 7 I

Another object is to provide an improved engine of the class described, having a plurality of pistons with opposed wings arranged to oscillate between fixed abutments in the cylindeiywherein the spaces, between each side of one wing and the abutments are connected, by passages in'the piston, with the spaces between the opposite sides of the opposed wing and the abutments. By this arrangement, the explosive energy exerted on one side-of one wing is permitted to act as well on the opposite side of the opposed vii'ig, whereby a nicely balanced piston is obtained;

A further object is to provide snitable means, whereby air may be admitted to the space on one side of one wing at the same time that a fuel mixture is admitted to the space on the opposite side of the other wing. I am aware that the use of oscillatory wing pistons in internal combustion engines is in itself old and shown in the prior art.

I am not aware, however, that my improved arrangement, comprising double acting pistons'havingopposed wings, oscillatory between fixed abutments, and passages connecting the spaces between eachside of one wing and the abutments with the spaces between the opposite sides of the other Wing substantially and the abutments, together with means to admit fuel to the space on one side of one" wing simultaneously with the admission of i air to the space on the opposite side of the other wing has heretofore been used. By

such an arrangement, I obtain not only 21, 60.

direct impulse upon one wing due directly to the explosion of the fuel mixture, but also asecondary impulse on the opposed wing due to the expansive effect of the exploded gases on the air admitted to this opposed wing. Moreover, the reduction in compression commonly obtained, when an engine is throttled down -is entirely eliminated by these air valves. g

In general, my enginecomprises a plurality of pistons having opposed wings, which are assembled on ashaft in groups of two, and a crank and connecting rod to. connect each group to the engine shaft. One wing of each piston is arranged to be directly acted upon on each side by the explosion of the fuel mixture in the usual four stroke cycle. The "opposed wing has each side connected by cored passageways with opposite sides of the other wing and means are provided to admit air to either side of this opposed wing simultaneously with the admission of fuel to the other wing. Thus each piston has one wing directly acted upon by .the explosion while the other wingis secondarily acted upon by the oxpanslon of the. exploded gases upon the air. I

One preferred embodiment of my invention, for the purposes of illustrating-one way in which the invention may be carried out is illustrated in'the accompanying draw-. ings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of. half of the engine with certain parts broken away to reveal the crank shaft and fly wheel, It is to be understood that to the right'of the fly wheel is another por tion exactly similar to that shownto the left of the fly wheel; Fig. 2 is a sectional ele? ration taken on the line 92 oflFig. lg F-ig. 3 is a sectional. elevation of the cylinder taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in th -db rection of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the cylinder taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a sectionalmlanyiew tawn on the line 5-5 of-Fig. looking in :zmdirection of the arro g- 6 i c- 40 4 1mm locatedbetween the heads 2 and a tional plan view taken on the lines 66 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation (taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1- looking in the direction of the arrows.

8 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. -7 looking the directionof the arrows. This view showshalf of the valve mechanismfor one half of the engine. It is' to'" beunderstood that the other half 'not shown is exactlysimilarand symmetrical. with that shown.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly toFigs; 1 and 2:. 1 represents thecylinden casing and secured to each end thereof are a pair of heads 2. 'Rotatably mountedin the latter is a shaft 3 and upon this shaft and within the casing 1 are two winged. pistons to belater described. These pistonsareoscillatory in a curved path and are arranged to move through an angle of substantially ninety degrees. Fixed to one end of the shaft 3 is a crankx12, which is :connected' by asrod 13 to the crank shaft 14 as clearly-shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The latter ;.'is suitably mounted in bearings within a crank case 15, which is bolted to the base of the cylinder casingl. ,A suitable fly wheel 16 is provided on the crank shaft 14 as shown in Fig. land on the other side of the fly wheel 16 is another engine unit identical with that shown to the left of thefly wheel in- -Fig. 1. 'It will beseen .from Fig. 2 that as "the'erank-12 oscillates throughsubstan- 'tially ninety degrees, a continuous rotary motion is imparted to the crank shaft 14.

i -"Beferr ing to Fig, "5,- .whichqshows a sectional-plan viewof the interior of the casing 1, it'will be seen that there are. .two. pistons eentral partition in the'casing 1. Sinceboth of: these units are-identical oneonly Wlll be described and in the drawings, the parts the same numerals-as similar parts which which cooperate with: thelpiston 4" are given operate with the piston 4, exceptthat these numerals are-primed: It will. also be seen i from Fig.5 that the piston4 .h stwo separate 'cored passages 7'and 8.: rFig: 3 clearly -shows'gthe passage 7 and- Fig. 4shows the so a,

passage 8. I Fixed in the. walls of the cylinder 1 are abutments'20 between which the wings and 6, integral with the piston 4, 3'55 This view is illustrati ve of the valve operating mechanism; and Fig.

. the space 19 and a similar valve on the other side, which communicates by a passage 27- with the space 9. On both sides of the cylinder and adjacent the admission valves. are. suitable spark plugs 29 and 30, which may be connected in the usual manner to the customary electrical ignition devices. Fuel is conveyed to both pistons by a single pipe 33 on either side of the cylinder as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. exhaust pipes 31 and 32 are'providedfor each piston as shown. Each air valve is located within a housing, such as shown at 34 and 34, and all of these housings are connected bya suitable pipe 35, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Within this pipe 35 may be located a throttle or butterfly valve 36 by means of which the amount of air flowing to the valves 25 and'26 may be regulated as desired. Each of the fuel, exhaust and air valves are normally held to their seats by coiled springs as clearly shown in Figs. 2

and6. The fuel and exhaust valves are arranged so that their stems extend vertically downward into the crank case 15 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7. The air valve 25 is operated by a bell crank 37 pivoted at 38'to a bracket attached to the .head' 2 ,and this Crank is operated by a rod 39 which is drawn downward at properintervals by meansto Suitable be described. The air valve 26 on the otherv 7 side of the cylinder. has a similar lever 40 pivoted at 41 and actuated by a rod 42. Thus for each piston 4 there are six valves to be operated viz., two fuelv valves, two exhaust valves and .two air valves, whose stems are indicated in cross section in Fig. 8 at 23, 24; 21, 22; and 39,42,1-espectively. The six valves for each piston 4 are actuated from two cams by means, which will now be described. Mountedin parallel relation with the crank shaft 14 is a cam shaft 17, arranged near one side of the crank case 15. This shaft is operated at half the speed-of the crank shaft 14 by suitable sprockets and, a chain 18. Fixed on the shaft 17 is a fuel admission cam 53 and an exhaust cam 47. Suitably mounted in paralleland spaced relation adjacent the top of the crank case are three rock shafts 43, 44, and 45. Pinned to the end of the shaft 43 is a-lever 46 which is forked over and pinned to the air valve op erating rod 42. Similarly mounted on the shaft 45 and connected to the otherair valve operating rod 39 is a lever 58. Loosely mounted on the shaft 44 is a lever 49 which has a roll bearing directly on the exhaust cam- 47. This lever is arranged in substantially horizontal relation and theend thereof is arranged to lift theexhaust valve '22,

'when lever; is lifted? by the' cam 47, Looselyggpunted upon the shaft-43 is a ver:

tically depending lever 48. which passes through an opening in the lever 49 and bears at its end a roll. The latter also boa rs upon cam 47 at a point ninety degrees removed from the rollon the lever 49. Connected to the lever 48 is a rod 50, Wllltll is connected at its other end to a lever 51. The latteris pending lever whichis also pinned to the shaft 44 to turn, \vhen the lever- 54 turns. Secured to the of this lever 55 is a rod 56, which extendshorizontally over the crank shaft 14 and is connected to a lever 57 which is pinned to the shaft 45. Thus when the admission valve 24 is opened by the love." 54 the air valve operated by the rod 35) will also be opened, since the lever 54-turns the shaft 44 and lever'55 and the latter turns the lever 57, shaft 45 and air lever 58, which pinned to the shaft. I mitted to the space 10 by the valve 24, air is simultaneously admitted to the space 1 by the valve 525- which is actuated by the rod 39. The other air valve '26, actuated by the rod 42, is similarly opened, when theadinis sins valve 23- is opened. in the following inanner. Fixed on the shaft 43 is a vertically depend ng lever 59, "which passes through an opening in the lever 54. This lever 59 has at its end a roll, which also bears 'on the admission cam 53 at a pointninety degrees removed from the roll on the lever 54. Obviously, this lever, when moved by the cam 53, \villturn the shaft 43 and the air lever 46, which is pinned to the Sllnft ass-already described. Loosely mounted on the. shaft 45 is a lever 62, the end of which ninr'lerlies the stem of the valve 23. Integral h the lever-62 is :1 depending arm :31, which is connectedby a rod 60 with the cam nperated lever 59just described. Thus, the Ziidmission valve and air valve 26 may be simultaneously operated by the cam it is to be noted that the piston 4 is double acting, as admission and exhaust valves are provided for each sideof the wing 6.

This wing 6 is'reciprocated to and'fro between the fixed abutments 20 in the usual four stroke cycle. Thus, in Figs. 3 and 4,

the wing 6 isstarting to-turn counterclock wise to draw a, charge of fuel through the valve "24 into the space 10, Asthis wing 6 turns counterclockwise the burned gases in the space 11 will be expelled therefrom through the exhaust valve 21. On the succeeding clockwise movement of thelwmg the Thus, when gas is ad-' charge sucked into the space 10, will be compressed and a charge will be drawn into the space 11. 0n the next counterclockwise stroke the chargoin the space 10 will'be ignited from the, plug 30 and the charge in the space 11 will be compressed. The return clockwise movement will exhaust the burned gas from the space 10 and the charge 1n the space 11 will beignited by the plug 29. Meanwhile, the wing 6 of the piston 4 has been passing through a similar cycle and it is to benoted that at each oscillation of the shaft 3 one charge is being fired so that a continuous torque is applied to the shaft 3. In addition to the positive propulsion of the wing 6, the-wing 5. is also propelled by an expansive effect of the explosion of the fuel charge. 'It will be remembered that,

as gas is admitted to the space 10, air is simultaneously admitted to the space 9'. Since these spaces are connecgad by the passage 7, fuel will pass from on side and air from the other side into this passage-7.. Near the central portion of the passage 7 the gas and air will undoubtedly blend to some extent but, since the'time element is small, there will be little blending except at the oint mentioned. The space 9 will be practically all air and the space 10 practically all fuel mixture. On theiexplosion of the latter the air in. the passage 7 and space 9 is violently compressed and expands against the wing 5 to pro el the latter in the. proper direction.

Thus an additional turning movement is obtained to propelv the shaft 3 without the use of additional fuel. It is'to be noted particularly, that the direct effect of the explosion on one wing and the indirect effect thereof on the opposite side of the other wing, constitute a couple since two forces acting in opposite directions through equal arms are provided. Since the shaft is oscillated by means of thecouple described, a nicely balanced driving arrangement is provided, wherein lateral strains on the piston are eliminated. v I

\Vith the arrangement described, four double acting wing pistons are provided, which is the equivalent of eightsingle acting pistons. I only two connecting rods and't-wo cranks are necessary. Consequently, a considerable saving is obtained through this construction.

It is also to be ,noted, that the air valves also insure a'completely filled cylinder.

cient air toreplace the reduction in fuelmixture' and the compression is. .undiminished. It should also be noted, that, although in commercial form the engine would undoubtedly 'be provided with a plu \Vith this number of pistons I rali-ty, of pistens a s described; a single pis- .ment ofithe piston shaftfl'vill rotate the t )1 i,.pri'.ifl0(l with a fly wheel of sufficient (1-1- 111; shafti together with suitable exhaust I I 'titnte an operable engine. is to br;.i'eeogni2zed that variousnodii i 4;. The combination in ari internal combus- 5 liens may be in e in the Specific stru'e- .t '1' described oatdepartingfrom the tion engine, of/a cylindeig'n shaft rotatably sen1 e f iinyinrentien, which is defined in mounted therein, abntlne nts fixed in said :the appended claims. cylinder, pistons mounted on id haft, h i, 151 Claim 5 Y thereof having ap aii of opposed wings ar 1Q II 1. aIrinnnal 'combnstion engine of li'anged to'os'cillate between said abnt-inents,

3 the escillatm y wing type, a cylindenhbut a crank shaft eonneetingineans between the a, fixed therein, a piston in Saidcylinlatterand said first named shaft operable to (I 'ngoppoeed wings arranged to 0 s; continuously rotate the. crank shaft. admiscillat L he-"1 said abiitinents; passages sionanil exhaust Valves communicatingwith 1511 d insni piston extendingfroin each the space between each side of one wing of face of one ing" to the opposite facei of each; piston and'the abntn'iei'its. ignition dethe o l'hee fixing, means to admit fuel to li ieesv for each'side of one wing; oi each pisi -,,e.ithei; of the spaces between one wing and ton, air valveii coininnnivating i'rith the said abu ts, means to admit air to either space between each side of the opposed wing 20' ween the other wing and of'each piston and the'alnitinente; pa ages V eily onewing may be formed in each piston to connect the space 101 threctioniby a direct eX- betweeneaeh side of one wing'o'f each pise'andftheother wing may be ten with the space between the o ns-no side hC-J; dinectimnby an expan of the opposed wing and the abn tni ins. and

lte.i\'ei1npnlse through said inez ns to operate said valves, said means it, together with suitable opei'able'to permit fuel to enter the Le 'iace on .i s and ignition devices; Subonelside of one wing of one p'ieton and air ntially described. r v toenter the space on the (En-pi: 'te side of the in inteinal combustion engine, comopjvosied'ifing. whereh one wing. isbnhject- 1 ind er, abntme'nts fiX'edthB IQin to $1 directiin 'mlseffrom the exiiioeion of -55 it) pistons, eaeh thereef ha'viiig a, the fuel and the opposed w in j is siihiecled V (lg wings ai. angdlto' 'o'seillate f t o a seeondayy impulse from vthe expansion l een u mntn entiineans t6 aidmj' t f nel ot the exploded gum; upon the air. ingjtheiyoi t1 tween one i igof 5iflhe C Olll iililli in an internalcombus- I p istondand" H t nents lnean to tion engine. of a ex'nnder. a E iIii i i"lfitillilhly air i geflei v of j'si'ielces' between 'monnh-flthe'i'ei alnnments tixed'in said wing of e ch pi n iindSaid abntcylinder; pinion? nmnnied on said shaft. eaeh passage formed'in Qich' of'said pisthereof haying op io-ed wings arranged to tending; froi n eachfaee one Wing oscillate between said abutnn-nt;v a seeoml @Qsitf; f v othei' 'wingg 'tm shaft and means to eontinuouslw rotate it with si it valves] figni fiOni'Sniddiifst nnined shar't. inei :z 'hnission c 'io;1?.- (re ces fand means ie operate' said fandexha'i'ist"valveseomnnmieat ngwith the 1 r: lies h nd dei-"i ees whereby "one wing of spaces betweenimeh side of one winQ-ot said ch i t 33' bbflgropelled infeither' di- J pistons :Y'lltl Quid"HlJUlHUElH. ignition devil-es 45 reetion b a direct explosive impulse and for eaehfside of: one win;- ni mid 'pistoiifi, air

, M the other, wingtof Qziiflir isto'nfmiiybep1-o-- \iaiiejs' (fr'n'inn'n 'iieating with the spaces he- ;pgslied irifeithe (Tn-eti' n"1 an expansion tween eaeh side of the imposed of and S i xplesfl Q i iph se, tljiioiigh's a'id paspistons-and said abniinents. passages in (1011- ,fl'ifiJSllpOnfllgiiill; ib'stfintiallyfas described. ;neet thespaeesbetweeneach sideo'i' one wing An inter l ee'inlaiis'tjion engine, co'mzn'idth'e al-intim-nts i'viihfthe Mid -(s between singin ceinbina'tioi'i, a cylinder,asliatt "the op'posii'e side of theinnmsed wing and p onnteidj tlie"ei n{, e nients fixed in said tliefahiit neiits. means to operate an! valves,

' ofl'istons'fixed' tdSaid id i'iern'i's i 'n-rnged go that a i'iiei admishai' ng'a in r of o ipo'seilif n n e"coinnnnneating with the space on )etween' said one 'l 'ziiie otone wing isopened sinniliandi i. i1 eacli'pis' ton "oi'isliv with fillair tame em n-nnnieatin3 with (if one wing "i'it iththefil on the oppi':iie i hm the hp'pflr'fll v t the fotli'e'r iiinggl m in to 1 .iei'ehy ognwhite sides of the opposed LL. @ndinitfuel 0 either. of the s'fi'at 3s l' 'etiieen ofknie'fghistiin may bepositively pro- YQ OllQjiYlIifiiQ each piston'and'saidnhntinents; belied; iln-ue'i'ie f'ionr-a direct llll'liljirh from i-i'iea ns i tg f dii'iit air torfih'er of tl {nit-es 'the kflnlhsie i'o i li't l'flild'lllL other [min a i joetii ee ietlie klt z'wing ot' each i"1to"nf:in(l" Attila "iniihejtiiiv 'iii-"(H1 expullshhu a rsa (l fa bii tznents, afar; aftf e nfneeting -i i: o on np' n the any: 1: Qi inehnsjbet ene the latter and shidg iton {haill"( ifliliiillfifl( nhffl bIlCJlll0 l ,edeothat theeei'lhttory11love iiiifluiil imrr i i-11 2ifflilfilflg lizivlllgfil' cyhn-z drical chamber formed therein, of abutinentsifixed in said casing and projecting iiiwardiy into said chamber, a piston in said ch'aniberhaving a pairof wings arranged to oscillate between said" abutments, fuel ad inissioii and exhaust valves communicating with the spaces between each side of one of said wings and said 'abutinen'ts, ignition devices for each sideof one of said wings, air valves communicating with the spaces betweeneach side of the'other "wing and the abi'itments,'passages formed in said piston -o' connect .the spaces on each side of one wing with the spaces on the opposite sides of the other wing, means to operate said fuel admission and Said air valves simultaneously, said. means arranged to admit fuel to the space on one side, of; one wing and air to the space on the opposite side of an opposed wing, whereby one wing may be propelled'with a direct impulse from the explosion of said fuel and the other wing may be propelled with a secondary impulse from the expansion of said explosion upon said air, means to operate said exhaust valves, a'driven shaft andmeans to continuo'u'sly rotate the latter from said piston.

7. An internal combustion engine, comprising, in combination a pair ofcylinders, a pair of pistons mounted in eachcylinder, a

- crank shaft, connecting-meansbetween each pair of pistons and said shaft arranged is continuously rotate the latter, abutments lixed ineach of said cylinder:. v each of said pistons comprising a pair of opposed wings arranged to oscillate between u" ments, passages termed in sta t p stons to connect the spaces between each side of one wing and the abutments with the spaces between the opposite sides of the opposed wing, means to admit fuel to and to exhaust from the spaces on BEiCllSldQ ofone wing of each piston, ignition means-for each side of one wing, means to admit air to the space I between each side or" the opposed wing and" sion of the explosion upon air, each of said pistons arranged to operateoii a fourstroke cycle, whereby four doubleacting pistons with only two connecting means between said pistons and said crank shaft are pro- Vided. v I

XVALTER J. BRO\VN. \Vitnesses: p

H. E. HARTWELL,

F. G. NEAL. 

